Flying Fijians

The 34-year-old hooked up with the Top 14 club on a one-season deal following the 2019 World Cup in Japan, but he has not had the best of times, making just four league appearances (and one in the Challenge Cup) in an injury-hit campaign that was officially terminated on Thursday by French officials due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Manawatu prop Samuela Tawake, Northland lock Temo Mayanavanua, Queensland Reds first five Teti Tela and Fijian Drua outside backs Jiuta Wainiqolo and Enele Malele have been selected in the starting fifteen, which includes eight members of the Fijian Drua team that reached the semi finals of the Australian National Rugby Championship.

Another Five Drua players are poised to make their international debut off the bench at Twickenham, along with Edinburgh flanker and former Fiji sevens star Mesulame Kunavula.

The hooker, who plays for Cornish Pirates in the English Championship, started for the Fijians in their matches versus Australia, Georgia and Wales and came off the bench in their other pool game versus Uruguay at the finals in Japan.

It capped an incredible year so far for Matavesi, who also featured for Toulouse this year as a short-term medical cover signing towards the end of the Top 14 season.

However, the 27-year-old has now taken to social media in the hope that some treasured possessions collected in Japan can be returned to him.

McKee’s team end their group campaign against Wales, having beaten Georgia, but lost to Uruguay and Australia. “There is a lot at stake for Wales, and they want to finish top of the pool in their passage to the play-offs (quarter-finals),” Fiji head coach McKee said.

“For us, it’s an opportunity. We know what a good team Wales are and what a challenge playing them will be. One thing with Wales and the strength of their team is that they have a number of options. They don’t play one way.

Viliame Mata replaces Peceli Yato at number eight. In the reserves, prop Eroni Mawi has been swapped with Lee-Roy Atalifo in the only other change to the 23 that comprehensively thrashed Georgia in Osaka, 45-10.

Fiji's quarter final hopes are effectively over after earlier defeats by Australia and Uruguay but head coach John McKee said his squad was determined to sign off from the tournament with a positive result.

"We see this final pool game as both a challenge and an opportunity. It is important to finish the pool stage on a high note," he said.

After losing to Australia last Saturday, Fiji were shocked by an impassioned Uruguay side, who took a 24-12 half-time lead and managed to hold onto a 30-27 win.

Boasting some world-class players, Fiji were tipped by many to cause some upsets at this year’s RWC with the Wallabies and Wales also in their pool. However, their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals now look very slim.

The Flying Fijians threatened an almighty upset against Australia on Saturday, leading the two-time champions for large periods of the game in Sapporo before fading in the final stages of the 39-21 defeat.

Captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Leone Nakarawa and Semi Radradra are the only players asked to back up in the starting 15 against Uruguay and coach John McKee has challenged the new players in the team to put up their hands and play well.

The 2007 quarter finalists managed only one win apiece in the previous two World Cup campaigns but have been tipped as a genuine contender to make the knockout rounds in Japan.

The Wallabies were too strong for Fiji when they met in the pool stage four years ago but coach John McKee says his team has made massive progress since then.

"Our squad has probably been a bit more settled. Last time I came in just over a year out from the World Cup, so we were still working on our combinations going into the World Cup. I think this time we're much more stable around the team.